Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 499

◈ 499. Ice Cream

Rembrary had never been Kim Murok PD’s muse; rather, he’d been a victim of the devil’s editing.

When Rembrary raised an eyebrow, showing no sign of welcome, Kim Murok cleared his throat, looking embarrassed.

Rembrary glanced at Kim Murok nonchalantly and asked Woo Yeonwoo,

“Are you doing a reality program with this guy?”

Woo Yeonwoo immediately retorted, bristling,

“No way!”

“You two definitely got out of the same car.”

“He didn’t come because I wanted to bring him. He followed me, asking to be taken along.”

Kim Murok coughed at Woo Yeonwoo’s indignant words.

Considering the stiff attitude Kim Murok had shown before, it was a pretty mild response.

‘Why is he being like this?’ As Rembrary stared, Kim Murok grinned.

“I came to see Rembrary.”

“Why me?”

“Because you’re my muse-”

“He said he fell into a slump after you left.”

Woo Yeonwoo cut in, unable to listen any longer.

Kim Murok shut his mouth with an awkward expression. That meant it was true; he was the type to deny it for sure if it wasn’t.

“Slump?”

“Don’t you know what a slump is?”

“I do. Isn’t that your life?”

“Hey!”

“So Kim Murok fell into your life-”

“Hey!”

Woo Yeonwoo, who had shouted, tore at his own hair, glared at Rembrary, barely calmed down, and continued to explain.

“You had a research center shoot, right? He fell into a slump after that shoot. Since sensational broadcasts have gone as far as they can go, I guess there’s nothing more to milk.”

Kim Murok coughed again.

Rembrary was genuinely impressed with Kim Murok.

‘Wasn’t he amazing?’

Starting from a normal Earth, not being an Awakened One, yet continuing to do what he was doing in this dangerous era?

Whether he fell into a slump or whatever, Rembrary thought Kim Murok was someone special just for staying alive and continuing to hold that job.

“Rembrary!”

As he was thinking that, Kim Murok suddenly shouted Rembrary’s name again, full of energy.

When he looked over, Kim Murok spread his arms wide and said with a friendly smile,

“I rushed over as soon as a new post went up on Rembrary’s SNS [Social Networking Service]. Because I realized it – the fact that Rembrary was my muse.”

“I don’t think so.”

“No, it’s not. My intuition shone as soon as I saw the post that Rembrary had returned. I know I can get through this slump with Rembrary!”

“…….”

Kim Murok smiled and held out something.

It was a Redrine ordinary believer’s certificate.

“!”

Rembrary was surprised by his thorough preparation.

Even the date wasn’t something hastily issued yesterday or today. It was a believer’s certificate that had been issued a whole two months ago.

The Woo brothers didn’t even know this, and Woo Yeonwoo and Woo Sungwoo were also taken aback.

Kim Murok grinned and put the ordinary believer’s certificate back in his pocket, boasting,

“I told you. I knew Rembrary was my muse, so I joined here to find out more about Rembrary.”

Rembrary admired Kim Murok’s intuition.

He wanted to deny that he was his muse… but when he thought about it, Rembrary had appeared in every one of Kim Murok’s representative entertainment works.

As soon as Kim Murok saw that Rembrary was somewhat convinced, he quickly asked,

“How about it, Rembrary? Do you want to broadcast again? Did you post that you were back on SNS because you wanted to make your name known again? Huh?”

Rembrary didn’t answer Kim Murok’s self-centered thoughts, and this time asked the Woo brothers,

“Okay, that’s that for him. Why did you two come again?”

This time, Woo Sungwoo, who had been quiet all along, answered.

“We checked your SNS post and came.”

“Why is everyone spying on my SNS?”

“…Not spying, but worried. We heard how you disappeared.”

Woo Sungwoo glanced at Woo Yeonwoo.

Seeing Woo Yeonwoo lower his head, it seemed he had heard everything about how Rembrary had become endangered while saving Woo Yeonwoo.

But then, an amazing thing happened.

Woo Yeonwoo crab-walked in that bowed state and hid behind his brother.

“I can see you.”

Rembrary told him, wondering what he was doing, but Woo Yeonwoo still didn’t come out from behind Woo Sungwoo.

As he watched, wondering why he was doing that, Woo Sungwoo sighed and said to Woo Yeonwoo,

“Say it yourself.”

‘Say what?’ Rembrary looked at Woo Yeonwoo, puzzled.

Did Woo Yeonwoo have something he wanted to say, but was too embarrassed to say it?

“Say it yourself.”

Woo Sungwoo urged Woo Yeonwoo again.

Then, Woo Yeonwoo bit his lip and finally came out from behind his brother, as if having mustered all his courage.

But that determined expression returned to its previous state as soon as Kim Murok moved his position, and came out as a roar.

“Turn off the camera!”

“How did he know I turned on the camera?”

“You’re moving suspiciously! Turn off the camera and go over there!”

“Aren’t you two trying to reconcile? There must be a lot of people who want to see the reconciliation scene.”

As Woo Yeonwoo glared at Kim Murok, Kim Murok made a ‘tch’ sound and took out a small camera from his pocket and pressed the power button.

“Just because he quit being a celebrity, he’s got such a temper.”

Even with those grumbling words, Rembrary was surprised and asked Woo Yeonwoo.

“Did you quit being a celebrity?”

Woo Yeonwoo was quite obsessed with succeeding as a celebrity. But he quit on his own?

Woo Yeonwoo sent Kim Murok far away and said quietly,

“I actually awakened.”

“How did that happen?”

“Is it wrong to do that?”

He seemed to gain courage after getting annoyed.

Woo Yeonwoo took a deep breath and grabbed Rembrary, distancing himself from Woo Sungwoo as well.

Wondering what he was trying to do, Woo Yeonwoo walked to a place where there was no one around.

Then, when he finally found a suitable spot, he suddenly blurted out,

“I think I’m grateful to you.”

Who else would say their thoughts so indirectly?

Rembrary was bewildered by that subtle way of speaking, but soon realized his intention and laughed.

“Grateful?”

“…….”

“You’re beating around the bush to say thank you.”

Woo Yeonwoo’s face turned red. He seemed to be in so much pain because he was so humiliated and embarrassed by this situation.

Seeing that, Rembrary deliberately patted him on the back a few times and said,

“Okay. Instead, you will shout ‘Thank you’ to me three times a day from now on.”

He wasn’t telling him to do it because he really wanted him to.

It was just a joke because Woo Yeonwoo’s ears were red with embarrassment even after twisting and turning his words of gratitude.

But as soon as those words were finished, Woo Yeonwoo clenched his fist and shouted,

“Damn it, even if I say it! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Then he ran towards Woo Sungwoo before he could be stopped.

Rembrary clicked his tongue and soon went that way himself.

Perhaps because he gained courage after speaking, Woo Yeonwoo was no longer hiding behind his brother.

His expression became excessively fierce when he made eye contact with Rembrary, though.

Woo Sungwoo, who had been behind him like a guardian until now, as if he thought Woo Yeonwoo had apologized, continued to speak to Rembrary again.

“Rembrary, we didn’t just come here to say hello.”

“Then?”

“I called Daeju and asked. He said you’re going into the Maze.”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll help you.”

“Going into the Maze? Is it difficult to enter?”

“No, it’s not that. But the ‘Maze’ itself is an unknown area. There are many hunters who have gone in and come out, but there are also quite a few hunters who have gone in and disappeared. It would be helpful to go together.”

Rembrary recalled what Yeomra had said. He said that Nakru was at the forefront of the fight against the demons.

So it was possible to offer to help him enter the Maze.

It was repaying the favor Rembrary had done for Woo Yeonwoo while doing their own work.

Rembrary nodded in satisfaction.

Woo Yeonwoo had awakened, but no one knew what his abilities were yet.

However, Woo Sungwoo was strong even before, so he would be helpful.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“But not now.”

Woo Sungwoo, who thought Rembrary would take him with him, raised an eyebrow.

“Not now?”

“This time, I’m going for a preliminary investigation. I’m not going to fight, I’m just going to look inside. It’s better to go with the minimum number of people.”

Woo Sungwoo wanted to say that this number of people was enough to be the minimum, but before he could finish his words, Hwasa Ja disappeared.

“He’s gone!”

As Woo Yeonwoo shouted, Woo Sungwoo recalled the situation just now where he couldn’t even have a proper conversation and laughed in vain.

“This is really something.”

“What should we do? We were going to help.”

“What should we do? I’ll have to talk to Daeju. He said it was a preliminary investigation, so he’ll be going in more later, and then there will be another time to help.”

As Woo Yeonwoo nodded, Woo Sungwoo patted his brother on the shoulder, feeling proud.

Apologizing to someone was not as easy as he thought. He was pleased that his brother had properly apologized to Rembrary.

Then, Woo Sungwoo suddenly noticed that something had disappeared nearby and widened his eyes.

“Where’s that person?”

“What person?”

“That PD [Production Director]!”

“!”

* * *

That PD was here.

“Aaaagh!”

Hwasa Ja, who had teleported once with Rembrary, screamed and almost fell backward.

“Who is that person!”

Kim Murok, who had been with Woo Sungwoo at some point, was next to Hwasa Ja.

As Kim Murok grinned, Hwasa Ja was flustered and tried to say something.

However, monster sounds were heard nearby, and he couldn’t leave Kim Murok, who wasn’t an Awakened One, in the middle of the street.

In the end, Rembrary and Hwasa Ja felt like they had one more piece of luggage and decided to explore the Maze with Kim Murok.

Kim Murok cheered and slyly turned on the camera.

Of course, he wasn’t secretly showing it to people in real time.

He was planning to film this video well, edit it nicely when he got home, so that Rembrary would be impressed by it and try to take him around in the future.

Anyway, after moving several times, they finally arrived in front of the Maze area they had been eyeing.

Hwasa Ja and his party stopped and looked at the Maze area.

‘Why do they call it a Maze?’ Unexpectedly, the entire area was surrounded by very high-looking walls, making it difficult to see inside.

“Is the inside also a maze?”

As Rembrary muttered, Hwasa Ja shuddered and said, “Ugh.”

“I don’t like that.”

Rembrary and Hwasa Ja briefly clashed over how to get inside, but this problem was quickly resolved thanks to Kim Murok.

“There’s a door over there.”

As if they weren’t trying to block people from entering, there was really a door right on the wall.

‘They said that their power increases by attracting people. Is that why?’

Rembrary approached the door and grabbed the doorknob.

“Huh? Rembrary? Are you just going to open it?”

Kim Murok was horrified when he saw that, but when Rembrary opened it without hesitation, he quickly hid behind Hwasa Ja.

But nothing happened.

Rembrary was the first to enter the door. The inside was a pale vanilla-colored plain. A plain with a strange floor material.

“What is it?”

Hwasa Ja also asked in wonder from behind.

Rembrary shook his head and took a few steps inside.

The plain seemed to be a bit soft, and it felt a little squishy as he walked.

Rembrary stood there blankly and looked around.

‘Should I keep walking?’

There were no other structures at all.

“Aaaagh!”

Then, Rembrary turned around at the scream from behind. Kim Murok was tap-dancing.

“You’re good at it.”

When he praised him, wondering what he was doing, Kim Murok shook his head and made a tearful face.

“No, Rembrary. This floor is melting!”

“Melting?”

Rembrary looked down.

Indeed. He didn’t know when he kept moving. When he stood still, the ground under his feet was melting little by little. Besides, it seemed to smell sweet.

Rembrary bent down and took a little of the floor with his finger.

The pale vanilla-colored floor came off. It smelled like vanilla.

“This… It’s like ice cream.”

As Rembrary muttered, Hwasa Ja did the same and was surprised.

“Why is the floor like this?”

“I don’t know.”

Kim Murok was still tap-dancing alone, and shouted with a tearful face,

“Rembrary, do we have to keep going in here? Shouldn’t we go out first and come back prepared?”

The one who answered that was Hwasa Ja, who was closest to the wall.

“The door is gone?”

“!”